US7735688B2 - Rotating collar and locking and venting closure connector for an air foaming pump dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

A manually operated, vertically reciprocating liquid pump dispenser is removably connectable to a bottle containing liquid and simultaneously pumps liquid from the bottle and air from the exterior environment of the dispenser and mixes the liquid with the air to produce a foam that is dispensed from the dispenser. The dispenser includes a closure connector and a rotatable collar on the connector that provides a mechanism for venting the interior of the bottle to the exterior environment of the dispenser while avoiding leakage of the liquid from the bottle, and also incorporate a mechanism for locking the dispenser to prevent unintended pumping of liquid from the bottle.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The present invention pertains to a manually operated reciprocating liquid pump dispenser that is removably connectable to a bottle containing a liquid. Manual operation of the dispenser simultaneously pumps the liquid from the bottle and pumps air from the exterior environment of the dispenser, mixes the liquid with the air to produce a foam, and dispenses the foam from the dispenser. More specifically, the pump dispenser of the invention includes a closure connector and a rotatable collar on the connector that provide a mechanism for venting the interior of the bottle to the exterior environment of the pump dispenser while avoiding leakage of the liquid from the bottle, and also incorporate a mechanism for locking the pump dispenser to prevent unintended pumping of the liquid from the bottle.

(2) Description of the Related Art

Manually operated, vertically reciprocated pump dispensers are those types of dispensers that are typically oriented vertically in use, and have a plunger at the top of the dispenser that is manually pressed downwardly to dispense the liquid contents of a bottle connected to the dispenser. The typical construction of such a dispenser includes an elongate pump housing and an elongate plunger that is received inside the pump housing for reciprocating movements between charge and discharge positions of the pump plunger in the pump housing.

The pump housing is inserted into the bottle neck opening of the bottle. A closure connector at the top of the pump housing removably secures the pump housing to the bottle neck. A dip tube connected at the bottom of the pump housing extends downwardly into the liquid in the bottle. The pump housing contains a liquid pump chamber and a check valve. The check valve controls the flow of liquid through the dip tube and into the pump chamber, and prevents the reverse flow of liquid.

The pump plunger has a tubular length with a liquid discharge passage extending through the center of the plunger. A liquid piston is mounted on the plunger and is received in the pump chamber for reciprocating movements. A dispensing head is provided at the top of the plunger. The dispensing head has a discharge outlet that communicates with the discharge passage of the plunger. A check valve in the liquid discharge passage controls the flow of liquid from the pump chamber and out through the dispensing head, and prevents the reverse flow of liquid.

A spring is positioned in the pump chamber. The spring biases the plunger upwardly to a charge position of the plunger relative to the pump housing. The upward movement of the plunger moves the piston upwardly in the pump chamber, which creates a vacuum in the pump chamber that draws liquid through the dip tube and into the pump chamber.

The pump plunger is manually depressed downwardly against the bias of the spring to a discharge position of the plunger relative to the pump housing. The downward movement of the plunger moves the piston downwardly in the pump chamber. The downward piston movement forces the liquid in the pump chamber through the liquid discharge passage of the plunger and out of the dispenser through the dispensing head.

In addition to the basic component parts of the manually operated, vertically reciprocated pump dispenser described above, many prior art pump dispensers are provided with a venting feature. The venting feature includes a vent opening that communicates the exterior environment of the dispenser with the interior of the bottle when the pump plunger is reciprocated in the pump housing. Air from the exterior environment of the dispenser is allowed to pass through the vent opening and enter the bottle interior to fill the volume in the bottle interior left vacant by the liquid being dispensed by the operation of the pump. Without such a vent opening, as liquid is dispensed from the bottle, a vacuum would be created in the bottle interior. The vacuum would eventually overcome the vacuum created by the pump piston moving to its charge position in the pump chamber, and prevent the pump from drawing liquid into the pump chamber. The increasing vacuum in the interior of the bottle could also possibly result in the inwardly collapsing of the bottle side walls. To overcome this problem, many prior art manually operated, vertically reciprocated pump dispensers are provided with constructions that allow air to vent into the interior of the bottle connected to the dispenser, while preventing liquid in the bottle from leaking out of the dispenser through the vent feature.

In addition to the above, many prior art manually operated, vertically reciprocated pump dispensers are provided with a locking feature. The locking feature would lock the plunger in its upward charge position relative to the pump housing or its downward discharge position relative to the pump housing. The locking feature would also close the liquid flow path through the pump. The locking feature thus prevents the unintended pumping of liquid from the bottle caused by unintended reciprocating movements of the pump plunger in the pump housing.

All of the above-described features that are often included in the typical construction of a manually operated, vertically reciprocated pump dispenser add to the number of component parts of the dispenser and add to the complexity of the assembly of the dispenser.

Manually operated, vertically reciprocated liquid pump dispensers have been developed that not only pump liquid from a bottle through the dispenser, but also pump air from the exterior environment of the dispenser through the dispenser, mixing the air with the liquid to generate a foam that is dispensed from the dispenser. These types of dispensers not only include all of the component parts of a dispenser required to draw liquid from the bottle connected to the dispenser and pump the liquid from the dispenser, but also include the additional component parts required to draw air from the exterior environment of the dispenser into the dispenser, mix the air with the liquid being pumped through the dispenser to generate the foam, and dispense the foam from the dispenser. Dispensers of this type that pump both liquid and air have even more component parts and an even more complex assembly than dispensers that pump only liquid. To provide a dispenser of this type with a venting feature and a locking feature would even further increase the number of component parts and the complexity of the assembly of the dispenser. To manufacture such a dispenser economically, it is necessary to provide a unique design of the dispenser that reduces the number of separate component parts of the dispenser and simplifies the dispenser construction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The manually operated, vertically reciprocating air foaming pump dispenser of the invention provides a unique dispenser construction that includes both liquid and air pumps and also provides a venting features and a locking feature while minimizing the number of component parts and the complexity of the dispenser assembly.

The construction of the pump dispenser of the invention is basically comprised of a pump housing that contains a liquid pump chamber, a closure connector that incorporates the venting feature and the locking feature with an air pump chamber of the dispenser, a pump plunger that is received in the pump housing for reciprocating movements and supports both a liquid pump piston and an air pump piston, a dispenser head that is mounted on the top of the pump plunger, and a collar mounted for rotation on the connector and operatively connected to the dispenser head where rotation of the collar locks the pump dispenser and seals the venting feature. All of the component parts of the dispenser are constructed of a plastic typically used in the construction of dispensers of this type, except for a coil spring and a pair of ball valves that could be constructed of metal or plastic. In the description of the pump dispenser provided herein, terms such as “upward” and “downward” are used to describe the dispenser in a vertically upright orientation shown in the drawing figures. This is the typical orientation of the dispenser when operated, but the dispenser could be operated in other orientations. Therefore, the terms “upward” and “downward,” and related terms should not be interpreted as limiting.

The pump housing of the dispenser has a tubular configuration that contains the liquid pump chamber. A top opening in the pump housing provides access to the pump chamber. A flat, annular ring is provided around a top portion of the pump housing. The ring is dimensioned to rest on the top of the neck of the bottle to which the pump dispenser is attached. A vent hole passes through the ring and forms a portion of the vent passage to the bottle interior.

A dip tube extends downwardly from the bottom of the pump housing and communicates the dispenser with liquid in a bottle to which the dispenser is attached. A ball check valve is positioned in the pump housing between the dip tube and pump chamber. The ball valve controls the flow of liquid into the pump chamber, and prevents the reverse flow of liquid.

The closure connector is attached to the top of the pump housing. The connector has a flat, circular base that extends over the top of the pump housing annular ring. A center hole through the base aligns with the top opening of the pump housing. A cylindrical side wall extends downwardly from the outer periphery of the base. The side wall has internal screw threading, a bayonet fitment, or other equivalent means of removably attaching the connector to the neck of the bottle, and thereby removably attaching the dispenser to the bottle. A cylindrical air pump chamber wall extends upwardly from the connector base. A vent opening passes through the connector base below the air pump chamber wall. The vent opening through the connector base communicates with the hole through the pump housing annular ring. Thus, an air venting passage is provided from the exterior environment of the pump dispenser through the vent opening in the connector base, and through the hole in the pump housing annular ring to the interior of the bottle connected to the pump dispenser. A plurality of lock columns are provided on the closure connector on the exterior of the air pump chamber wall. The plurality of columns project upwardly from the connector base and have connector lock surfaces at the upper distal ends of the columns.

The pump plunger has a tubular length that extends downwardly through the center hole of the connector base and through the top opening of the pump housing. A liquid discharge passage of the pump dispenser extends through the center of the plunger. The pump plunger is received in the pump housing for reciprocating movements of the pump plunger in the pump housing. The pump plunger is moved downwardly through the pump housing to a discharge position of the pump plunger relative to the pump housing, and is moved upwardly through the pump housing to a charge position of the pump plunger relative to the pump housing.

A ball check valve is positioned in the liquid discharge passage adjacent the top of the plunger. The ball valve controls the flow of liquid from the pump chamber through the plunger, and prevent the reverse flow of liquid.

A liquid piston is mounted to the lower end of the plunger. The liquid piston engages in a sealed, sliding engagement in the liquid pump chamber of the pump housing.

An air piston is also mounted on the plunger above the liquid piston. The air piston engages in a sealed, sliding engagement in the air pump chamber on the closure connector.

A dispenser head is mounted on the top of the pump plunger. The dispenser head contains a spout having an outlet passage that communicates with the liquid discharge passage of the plunger. A cylindrical sleeve of the pump dispenser extends downwardly from the spout. The sleeve is coaxial with the pump plunger and extends around the exterior of the closure connector air pump chamber wall. The dispenser head has a plurality of pairs of posts that extend downwardly in the interior of the dispenser sleeve. Each pair of posts has an axial groove at the center of the pair of posts. The bottom distal ends of the posts have lock surfaces of the dispenser head.

A cylindrical collar is mounted on the closure connector for rotation of the collar relative to the connector. The collar has an interior surface with a plurality of narrow ridges or tongues extending axially across the interior surface. The plurality of tongues are spacially arranged around the collar interior surface and engage in sliding contact in the grooves between the pairs of posts on the dispenser head. In this manner the dispenser head is operatively connected to the collar for rotation of the dispenser head together with the collar around the center axis of the pump dispenser, and for axial reciprocating movement of the dispenser head relative to the collar. The exterior dimension of the collar is slightly smaller than the interior dimension of the dispenser head sleeve, whereby the dispenser head sleeve telescopes over the collar when the dispenser head is reciprocated axially relative to the collar. The collar also has a plurality of tabs spacially arranged around the interior of the collar. Each of the tabs has a sealing surface positioned to cover over and close one of the plurality of vent openings of the closure connector. The collar is mounted on the closure connector for rotation between a closed position of the collar on the connector where the collar sealing surfaces engage over and close the connector vent openings, and an opened position of the collar on the connector where the collar sealing surfaces are displaced from the connector vent openings and the bottle interior communicates through the connector vent openings with the exterior environment of the pump dispenser.

The operative connection between the collar and the dispenser head also causes the dispenser head to rotate on the pump dispenser when the collar is rotated on the pump dispenser. The dispenser head rotates with the collar between a locked position and an unlocked position of the dispenser head relative to the closure connector that correspond respectively to the closed and opened positions of the collar. In the locked position of the dispenser head and the closed position of the collar, the lock surfaces at the distal ends of the dispenser head posts are axially aligned opposite the lock surfaces at the ends of the connector columns. The axial alignment of the dispenser head lock surfaces and the connector lock surfaces prevents the dispenser head from being reciprocated relative to the collar, and thereby prevents the pump plunger from being reciprocated in the pump housing. Thus, the collar and closure connector of the invention close the air venting passageway through the pump dispenser and lock the pump plunger in the first, charge position of the pump plunger relative to the pump housing when the collar and dispenser head are rotated together to the vent closed position of the collar and the locked position of the dispenser head.

Rotating the collar away from the closed position toward the opened position of the collar relative to the pump dispenser causes the collar sealing surfaces to move away from the connector vent openings, thereby opening communication between the bottle interior and the exterior environment of the pump dispenser. Simultaneously, the dispenser head rotates relative to the closure connector and the dispenser head lock surfaces move away from their axially aligned positions opposite the connector lock surfaces. With the dispenser lock surfaces axially misaligned from the connector lock surfaces, the dispenser head is free to be reciprocated relative to the collar and the closure connector, thereby allowing reciprocating movements of the pump plunger in the pump housing.

Thus, the pump dispenser of the invention comprises both a liquid pump and an air pump that mix liquid and air pumped through the dispenser to create a foam dispensed by the dispenser. In addition, the novel construction of the pump dispenser provides a collar and dispenser head that are rotatable together relative to a closure connector of the pump dispenser to provide a venting feature and a lock feature of the dispenser, thereby reducing the number of component parts of the dispenser and simplifying the dispenser construction.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

Further features of the air foaming pump dispenser of the invention are set forth in the following detailed description of the pump dispenser and in the drawing figures of the pump dispenser.

FIG. 1 is a side-sectioned view of the air foaming pump dispenser connected to a bottle and with the pump plunger in the upward, charge position of the pump plunger relative to the pump housing.

FIG. 2 is a front-sectioned view of the air foaming pump dispenser ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial view of the pump dispenser shown inFIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a top-sectioned view of the air foaming pump dispenser along the line4-4 ofFIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of the closure connector removed from the pump dispenser.

FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of the collar removed from the pump dispenser.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The basic component parts of the pump dispenser that comprise the novel features of the invention are thepump housing12, theclosure connector14, thepump plunger16, thedispenser head18 and a locking and ventingcollar20. These five basic component parts, as well as most of the other component parts of the dispenser to be described, are constructed of a plastic material typically used in the construction of pump dispensers of this type. The exceptions are the coil spring of the dispenser and a pair of ball valves of the dispenser, which could be constructed of plastic, but are usually constructed of metal.

Thepump housing12 has a tubular length with a hollow center bore having acenter axis22. The length of thepump housing12 extends from adip tube connector24 at the bottom of the pump housing to an oppositetop end28 of the pump housing that surrounds a top opening into the pump housing. Thedip tube connector24 connects to a dip tube (not shown) that extends into the interior of abottle26. Thepump housing12 contains aliquid pump chamber32 having a cylindrical liquidpump chamber wall34. Avalve seat36 is provided at the bottom of thepump housing12 between thedip tube connector24 and theliquid pump chamber32. Thevalve seat36 supports aball valve38. Theball valve38 controls the flow of liquid through the dip tube and thedip tube connector24 into theliquid pump chamber32, and prevents the reverse flow of liquid. A sealingplug retainer44 extends axially upwardly from the bottom of theliquid pump chamber32. The sealingplug retainer42 retains anelongate stem44 of a sealingplug46 in thepump housing12. The engagement of theretainer42 with thestem44 allows for some limited axial movement of the sealingplug46 in thepump housing12. A radially enlargedportion48 of thepump housing12 extends axially upwardly from the liquidpump chamber wall34. Thisportion48 of the housing extends upwardly to thetop end28 of the pump housing surrounding the top opening. An annular lip52 is formed on the exterior surface of thepump housing12 around the top opening. Spaced below the annular lip52 is a flatannular ring54 that projects radially outwardly from thepump housing12. A vent hole58 (shown inFIG. 2) passes through theannular ring54 and functions as a portion of the air vent path.

Theclosure connector14 has a general cylindrical configuration that is coaxial with thepump housing12. A center tubular stem62 of theconnector14 is inserted into the opening at the pump housingtop end28. Acircular rim64 projects inwardly from the interior of thestem62. An annular shoulder66 of the connector extends over thepump housing top28 and downwardly over the pump housing annular lip52 securing theclosure connector14 to thepump housing12. A flatcircular base68 extends radially outwardly from the closure connector shoulder66. Acylindrical wall72 extends upwardly from the outer peripheral edge of theconnector base68. Thewall72 forms an air pump chamber wall that surrounds the air pump chamber of the dispenser. Anaxial groove74 is formed in the exterior surface of a lower portion of the airpump chamber wall72. Theaxial groove74 intersects anannular trough76 formed into the bottom surface of theconnector base68. Thetrough74 extends radially inwardly from the outer peripheral edge of theconnector base68 to a position over thevent hole58 in the pump housingannular ring54. Thus, thegroove74 in the airpump chamber wall72 and thetrough76 in the bottom of theclosure connector base68 form a portion of the air venting flow path through the pump dispenser.

Portions of the airpump chamber wall72 are thicker than the remainder of the wall. These portions formlock columns78 that extend axially upwardly over the exterior surface of the airpump chamber wall72.FIG. 5 shows threelock columns78 on the exterior surface of the air pump chamber wall. In the embodiment shown, there are threelock columns78 spacially arranged around the airpump chamber wall72. Eachlock column78 extends axially upwardly to the top edge of the airpump chamber wall72 where alock surface82 is provided on the top distal end of eachlock column78.

Positioned adjacent the bottom of eachlock column78 is avent opening84 into the airpump chamber wall72. Each vent opening84 communicates with one of theaxial grooves74 formed in the exterior surface of the airpump chamber wall72. In the embodiment of the pump dispenser shown in the drawing figures, there are threesuch vent openings84 spacially arranged around the airpump chamber wall72. Together thevent openings84, theaxial grooves74, and theradial trough76 form a vent air flow path from the exterior of the airpump chamber wall72 through the pump dispenser to the interior of thebottle26 connected to the pump dispenser.

Anannular flange86 projects radially outwardly from the airpump chamber wall72 just below the plurality ofvent openings84. Theflange86 extends outwardly to an outer peripheral edge of the flange that joins with acylindrical side wall88 of the closure connector. A portion of theside wall88 extends axially downwardly from the outer peripheral edge of theannular flange86. This lower portion of theside wall88 has internal screw threading92 that is used to removably attach the pump dispenser to the neck of thebottle26. Other equivalent connectors, for example a bayonet connector, could be used. A cylindrical upper portion of theside wall88 extends axially upwardly from the outer peripheral edge of theannular flange86. Theannular flange86 spaces the upper portion of theside wall88 radially outwardly from the airpump chamber wall74 and forms anannular groove94 between the upper portion of theconnector side wall88 and the airpump chamber wall72. As seen in the drawing figures and in particular inFIG. 5, each of thevent openings84 open through the airpump chamber wall72 in theannular groove94. Referring toFIGS. 4 and 5, threestop surfaces96 extend across theannular groove94 adjacent the threevent openings84. Three tab locks98 project into theannular groove94 on the opposite sides of thevent openings84 from the lock surfaces.

Thepump plunger16 is mounted in the interior of thepump housing12 for reciprocating movements between an upward, first charge position of thepump plunger16 relative to thepump housing12, and a downward second discharge position of thepump plunger16 relative to thepump housing12. Thepump plunger16 is also rotatable in thepump housing12. Thepump plunger16 has an elongate tubular length with a center bore102 that is coaxial with thecenter axis22 of the pump housing. The plunger center bore102 forms a liquid discharge passage through the pump plunger. Aliquid piston104 is formed at the bottom end of thepump plunger16. Theliquid piston104 engages in a sliding sealing engagement with the liquidpump chamber wall34. A sealingplug seat106 is formed on an intermediate portion of thepump plunger16. The sealingplug seat106 is positioned to engage in a sealing engagement with the sealingplug46 when thepump plunger16 is moved to its upward, charge position relative to thepump housing12. Anannular retainer ring108 extends radially outwardly from thepump plunger16 just below the sealingring106 and below theinterior rim64 of theclosure connector14. The engagement of the pumpplunger retainer ring108 with theclosure connector rim64 prevents thepump plunger16 from being removed from thepump housing12, and positions thepump plunger16 in the charge position relative to thepump housing12. From theretainer ring108, thepump plunger16 extends axially upwardly to atop end112 of the plunger that surrounds a top opening of the plunger.

Acoil spring114 is positioned over thepump plunger16 and engages on top of the closure connectorinterior rim64. Thespring114 biases thepump plunger16 toward its upward, first charge position relative to thepump housing12.

Atubular spring holder116 is inserted into thetop end112 of thepump plunger12 and is held firmly in the plunger. Thespring holder116 has anannular ring118 that projects radially outwardly from thespring holder116 and engages against thetop end112 of the plunger and the top of thecoil spring114. Thecoil spring114 acts against thespring holder ring118 in biasing thepump plunger16 upwardly to the first, charge position of theplunger16 relative to thepump housing12. Anair seal ring124 projects axially upwardly from the top of thespring holder ring118. Radially inside theair seal ring124, a plurality ofair path grooves126 are formed in the exterior surface of thespring holder116. Thegrooves126 extend axially upwardly from theannular ring118 to the top end of thespring holder116. Avalve seat128 is provided inside thetubular spring holder116 adjacent the top end of the spring holder. Aball valve132 is positioned on thevalve seat128. Theball valve132 controls the flow of fluid upwardly through thespring holder116 as part of theliquid discharge passage102 of the pump plunger, and prevents the reverse flow of liquid.

Thedispenser head18 is mounted on thepump plunger16 by being mounted onto the top end of thespring holder116. Thedispenser head18 has acenter tube134 inside the dispenser head that is press fit over the top end of thespring holder116. The engagement of the dispenserhead center tube134 with thespring holder116 securely holds the dispenser head to thepump plunger16. Theair path grooves126 in thespring holder116 provide an air path between thespring holder116 and the dispenserhead center tube134. Adischarge nozzle136 projects radially outwardly from the dispenserhead center tube134, and anoutlet passage138 in thedischarge nozzle136 communicates with the interior of thecenter tube134 and forms a portion of the discharge passage of the pump dispenser. A circularair seal rim142 is formed in an interior surface of thedispenser head18 and extends around the dispenserhead center tube134. Acylindrical sleeve144 extends axially downwardly from thedispenser head18 and is spaced radially outwardly from thecenter tube134 and theair seal rim142.

Pairs ofposts146 extend downwardly in the interior of thedispenser head18. In the illustrated embodiment of the pump dispenser, there are three pairs ofposts146 spacially arranged around the pumpdispenser center axis22 inside thedispenser head18. Each of the pairs ofposts146 are spaced radially inwardly from thedispenser head sleeve144. Anaxial groove148 is formed between each of the pairs ofposts146. Each of thegrooves148 extends axially downwardly for the entire length of its associated pair ofposts146. Each of the pairs ofposts146 also has radial lock surfaces150 formed at the bottom ends of the posts. These lock surfaces150 of thedispenser head18 are positioned adjacent the top end of the airpump chamber wall72 on theclosure connector14. With thedispenser head18 being rotatable with thepump plunger16 relative to theconnector closure14 and thepump housing12, in a first rotated position of thedispenser head18 relative to theconnector14, the dispenser head lock surfaces150 are axially aligned opposite the lock surfaces82 at the tops of thelock columns78 on the airpump chamber wall72. Rotating thedispenser head18 and thepump plunger16 relative to theclosure connector14 and thepump housing12 to a second, unlocked position of thedispenser head18 relative to theclosure connector14 axially misaligns the dispenser head lock surfaces150 and the closure connector lock surfaces82. When rotated to the first, locked position, the dispenser head lock surfaces150 are axially aligned opposite the closure connector lock surfaces78 and the opposed lock surfaces will engage with each other when thedispenser head18 is manually pressed downwardly. The engagement of the dispenser head lock surfaces150 with the closure connector lock surfaces82 prevents thepump plunger16 from being reciprocated relative to thepump housing12 when thedispenser head18 is manually pressed toward the pump housing. To unlock thepump plunger16, theplunger16 and thedispenser head18 are rotated relative to thepump housing12 and theclosure connector14 to the second, unlocked position of thedispenser head18 relative to theclosure connector14. In the unlocked position the dispenser head lock surfaces150 are misaligned with the closure connector lock surfaces82, and thepump plunger16 can be manually pressed downwardly into thepump housing12 by manually pressing thedispenser head18 downwardly. This allows thepump plunger16 to be reciprocated in thepump housing12.

Anair pump piston152 is mounted on thepump plunger16 and engages in a sliding sealing engagement in the airpump chamber wall72. Theair piston152 has acylindrical center portion156 that extends from the outer sealing portion of theair piston152 axially upwardly and then radially inwardly toward thepump plunger16. A cylindricalupper end158 of the air pistoncylindrical portion156 is dimensioned to engage in a sealing engagement in theair seal rim142 of thedispenser head18. The air pistonupper end158 is joined by a plurality ofradial spokes162 to a centertubular column164 of the air piston. The spacings between theradial spokes162 provide air flow paths between the air pistonupper end158 and the airpiston center column164. Theair piston column164 is mounted for limited axial sliding movement on the dispenserhead center tube134. When theair piston column164 moves downwardly relative to the dispenserhead center tube134, a bottomannular edge166 of the column engages in a sealing engagement inside the spring holderair seal ring124. This closes an air flow path from the interior of the air pump chamber inside the airpump chamber wall72 through theair path grooves126 between thespring holder116 and the dispenserhead center tube134 to the dispenserhead outlet passage138. The downward movement of theair piston152 on the dispenserhead center tube134 causes theupper end158 of the air piston to disengage from theair seal rim142 of the dispenser head. This opens an air flow path from the exterior of the dispenser head through the spacing between the dispenserhead sealing rim142 and the air pistonupper end158 allowing air from the exterior environment of the dispenser pump to enter the air pump chamber inside the airpump chamber wall72.

The cylindrical locking and ventingcollar20 is mounted on theclosure connector14 for rotation of the collar on the connector. Thecollar20 has a lowercylindrical rim portion172 that snaps over the upper portion of theconnector side wall88 in mounting thecollar20 on theconnector14 for rotation. From therim172, thecollar20 extends axially upwardly over the exterior surface of the connector airpump chamber wall72. Aradial spacing174 is left between thecollar20 and the airpump chamber wall72. Thisradial spacing174 forms a portion of the air vent flow path through the pump dispenser.

A plurality of sealingtabs176 are spaced radially inwardly from thecollar rim172 and extend axially downwardly from thecollar20 into theannular groove94 of the closure connector. A narrow tongue orridge178 extends axially upwardly from each sealingtab176 across the interior surface of thecollar20. Thecollar tongues178 engage in sliding engagement in thegrooves148 between the dispenser head posts146 in operatively connecting thecollar20 to thedispenser head18. The connection between thecollar20 and thedispenser head18 provided by the sliding engagement of thecollar tongues178 in thedispenser head grooves148 allows thedispenser head18 to be reciprocated axially relative to thecollar20, and connects thecollar20 to thedispenser head18 for rotation with the dispenser head.

Thecollar20 is rotatable between a locked, vent closed position and an unlocked, vent opened positioned of thecollar20 relative to theclosure connector14. In the locked, vent closed position, thecollar20 is rotated in a clockwise direction when looking at the top of the pump dispenser. Thecollar20 is rotated to where each of thecollar sealing tabs176 engages against astop surface96 in theannular groove94 of theclosure connector14. This positions a surface of each sealingtab176 over each vent opening84 of the closure connector, closing the air vent passage through the pump dispenser. The engagement of the closure connector tab locks98 on the opposite sides of thecollar tabs176 from the connector stop surfaces96 securely holds thecollar20 in the locked, vent closed position relative to theconnector14. In this position also, the operative connection between thecollar20 and thedispenser head18 provided by the engagement of thecollar tongues178 in thedispenser head grooves148 positions thedispenser head18 relative to the connector airpump chamber wall72 where the dispenser head lock surfaces150 are aligned axially opposite the connector lock surfaces82. This prevents thedispenser head18 from being reciprocated relative to theclosure connector14, and thereby prevents reciprocating movements of thepump plunger16 in thepump housing12.

Rotating the locking/venting collar20 counterclockwise relative to theclosure connector14 moves thecollar20 from the locked, vent closed position to an unlocked, vent opened position of the collar. This rotation of thecollar20 requires sufficient manual force to disengage each of thecollar sealing tabs176 form its engagingtab lock98 of theclosure connector14. As each sealingtab176 is moved over its engagingtab lock98, the surface of thesealing tab176 closing over the vent opening84 of theclosure connector14 is moved away from the vent opening. This opens an air vent path from the exterior of the pump dispenser through theradial spacing174 between thecollar20 and the closure connector airpump chamber wall72, through theconnector vent openings84, through theaxial grooves74 in the airpump chamber wall72 and theannular trough76 on the bottom of theconnector base68 and through thevent hole58 in the pump dispenserannular ring54 to the interior of thebottle26. This rotation of thecollar20 also causes thedispenser head18 to rotate relative to the closure connector66 due to the operative engagement between thecollar tongues178 in thedispenser head grooves148. The movement of thedispenser head18 relative to theconnector closure14 moves the dispenser head lock surfaces150 away from axial alignment with the closure connector lock surfaces82. This allows thedispenser head18 to be reciprocated over thecollar20, and thereby allows thepump plunger16 to be reciprocated in thepump housing12.

As thepump plunger16 is moved downwardly into thepump housing12, an air flow path is established through the spacing between the dispenser headair seal rim142 and the air pump pistonupper end158 providing air into the air pump chamber surrounded by the airpump chamber wall72. This air flow path exists for the short period of time before theair piston152 moves upwardly relative to the dispenserhead center tube134 and the air pistonupper end158 engages in a sealing engagement with the dispenser headair seal rim142. Simultaneously, thebottom edge166 of the air pump pistontubular column164 disengages from theair seal ring124 of thespring holder116. This opens an air flow path from the air pump chamber through thegrooves126 in thespring holder116 to the dispenserhead outlet passage134. Further downward movement of thepump plunger16 into thepump housing12 causes downward movement of theair piston152 in the air pump chamber surrounded by the airpump chamber wall72, which causes air to be forced from the air pump chamber through thespring holder grooves126 to the dispenserhead outlet passage138.

Additionally, as thepump plunger16 moves downward through thepump housing12, liquid in theliquid pump chamber32 is pumped out of the chamber by the downward movement of theliquid piston104 through the liquid pump chamber. The liquid is forced upwardly through the pump plungerliquid discharge passage102 and mixes with the air pumped from the air pump chamber, generating a foam. The foam is dispensed through the dispenserhead outlet passage138 from the dispenser.

After thepump plunger16 has been moved downwardly to its second, discharge position relative to thepump housing12, the manual pressure on thepump plunger16 is removed and thecoil spring114 pushes thepump plunger16 upwardly in thepump housing12. The spring pushes theplunger16 upwardly in thehousing12 to the first, charge position of thepump plunger16 relative to thepump housing12. This causes theliquid piston104 to move upwardly through theliquid pump chamber32 drawing liquid into the liquid pump chamber, and causes theair piston152 to first be stationary as the plunger moves upwardly and the dispenser headair seal rim142 disengages from the air pistonupper end158, and then moves upwardly with the plunger through the air pump chamber surrounded by the airpump chamber wall72 drawing air into the air pump chamber. With thepump plunger16 in its first, charge position relative to thepump housing12, the plunger is ready for additional manual reciprocating movements relative to thepump housing12, or is in position to be rotated clockwise relative to thepump housing12 back to the lock position of theplunger16.

As described above, the pump dispenser of the invention comprises both a liquid pump and an air pump that mix liquid and air pumped through the dispenser to create a foam dispensed by the dispenser. In addition, the novel construction of the pump dispenser incorporates a collar rotatably mounted on the closure connector with a venting feature and a lock feature of the dispenser, thereby reducing the number of component parts of the dispenser and simplifying the dispenser construction.

Although the air foaming pump dispenser of the invention has been described above by reference to a specific embodiment shown in the drawing figures, it should be understood that modifications and variations could be made to the air foaming pump dispenser without departing from the intended scope of the following claims.

Claims (15)

1. A pump dispenser that is connectable to a bottle and is manually operated to pump liquid from the bottle interior, pump dispenser comprising:

a pump plunger having a tubular length with a center axis that defines mutually perpendicular axial and radial directions relative to the pump dispenser, the pump plunger having a discharge passage extending axially through the pump plunger;

at least one piston on the pump plunger;

a pump housing that receives the pump plunger for axially reciprocating movements of the pump plunger between a first, charge position and a second, discharge position of the pump plunger relative to the pump housing;

an air vent passage through the pump dispenser that provides communication between the bottle interior and an exterior environment of the pump dispenser when the pump dispenser is connected to the bottle;

a cylindrical collar mounted on the pump dispenser for manual rotational movement of the collar around the pump dispenser between a vent closed position of the collar on the pump dispenser where the collar closes the air vent passage through the pump dispenser and a vent opened positioned of the collar on the pump dispenser where the collar opens the air vent passage through the pump dispenser;

a dispenser head on the pump plunger, the dispenser head having an outlet passage that communicates with the pump plunger discharge passage and extends radially from the discharge passage, the dispenser head moving with the pump plunger between the first, charge position and the second, discharge position of the pump plunger relative to the pump housing, and the dispenser head having a lock that prevents the dispenser head from moving with the pump plunger between the first, charge position and the second, discharge position of the pump plunger when the collar is in the closed position, and allows the dispenser head to move with the pump plunger between the first, charge position and the second, discharge position of the pump plunger when the collar is in the opened position.

2. The pump dispenser ofclaim 1, further comprising:

the dispenser head being operatively connected to the collar to move in rotation with the collar and to move axially relative to the collar.

3. The pump dispenser ofclaim 1, further comprising:

a cylindrical connector on the pump housing, the connector being removably connectable to the bottle to connect the pump dispenser to the bottle, the connector having a vent opening that forms a portion of the air vent passage through the pump dispenser; and,

the collar being mounted for rotation on the connector, the collar having a sealing surface that covers over and closes the connector vent opening when the collar is in the closed position and is displaced from and opens the connector vent opening when the collar is in the opened position.

4. The dispenser ofclaim 3, further comprising:

a lock surface on the connector that is axially spaced from the connector vent opening; and,

the dispenser head lock having a lock surface, the dispenser head being operatively connected to the collar to move in rotation with the collar and to move axially relative to the collar when the dispenser head moves with the pump plunger between the first, charge position and the second, discharge position of the pump plunger relative to the pump housing, the dispenser head lock surface being axially aligned with the connector lock surface when the connector is in the closed position and the pump plunger is in the first, charge position, the dispenser head lock surface being axially aligned with the connector lock surface preventing the dispenser head and the pump plunger for moving between the first, charge position and the second, discharge position of the pump plunger relative to the pump housing, and the dispenser head lock surface being axially misaligned with the connector lock surface when the connector is in the opened position, the dispenser head lock surface being axially misaligned with the connector lock surface allowing the dispenser head to move with the pump plunger between the first, charge position and the second, discharge position of the pump plunger relative to the pump housing.

5. The pump dispenser ofclaim 4, further comprising:

a stop surface on the connector; and,

a stop surface on the collar, the collar stop surface being positioned on the collar to engage with the connector stop surface and prevent further rotation of the collar on the connector when the collar is rotated from the opened position of the collar to the closed position of the collar where the engagement of the collar stop surface with the connector stop surface positively locates the collar sealing surface over the connector vent opening.

6. The pump dispenser ofclaim 4, further comprising:

the dispenser head being operatively connected to the collar by a tongue and groove connection between the dispenser head and the collar.

7. A pump dispenser that is connectable to a bottle and is manually operated to pump liquid from the bottle interior, the pump dispenser comprising:

a pump plunger having a tubular length with a center axis that defines mutually perpendicular axial and radial directions relative to the pump dispenser, the pump plunger having a discharge passage that extends axially through the pump plunger;

at least one piston on the pump plunger;

a pump housing that receives the pump plunger for rotation of the pump plunger in the pump housing and for axially reciprocating movements of the pump plunger between a first, charge position of the pump plunger relative to the pump housing and a second, discharge position of the pump plunger relative to the pump housing;

an air vent passage through the pump dispenser that provides communication between the bottle interior and an exterior environment of the pump dispenser when the pump dispenser is connected to the bottle;

a cylindrical connector on the pump housing, the connector being removably connectable to the bottle to connect the pump dispenser to the bottle, the connector having a lock surface on the connector, the connector having a connector wall that extends axially from the pump housing over the pump plunger to a distal end of the wall, and the connector lock surface being on the distal end of the connector wall, the connector wall being a cylindrical pump chamber wall that extends axially from the pump housing and extends around the pump plunger, the connector having a vent opening that forms a portion of the air vent passage through the pump dispenser;

a cylindrical collar mounted on the connector for rotation of the collar around the connector, the collar having a sealing surface that covers over and closes the connector vent opening when the collar is rotated with the dispenser head to the locked position of the dispenser head relative to the connector, and is displaced from and opens the connector vent opening when the collar is rotated with the dispenser head to the unlocked position of the dispenser head relative to the connector; and

a dispenser head on the pump plunger, the dispenser head being operatively connected to the collar to move in rotation with the collar and to move axially relative to the collar and the dispenser head having an outlet passage that communicates with the pump plunger discharge passage and extends radially from the discharge passage, the dispenser head moving with the pump plunger between the first, charge position and the second, discharge position of the pump plunger relative to the pump housing, the dispenser head having a lock surface on the dispenser head, and the dispenser head in the first, charge position being rotatable relative to the connector and the connector lock surface between a locked position of the dispenser head relative to the connector where the dispenser head lock surface is axially aligned with the connector lock surface and prevents the dispenser head and the pump plunger from moving between the first, charge position and the second, discharge position of the pump plunger relative to the pump housing, and an unlocked position of the dispenser head relative to the connector where the dispenser head lock surface is axially misaligned with the connector lock surface and allows the dispenser head and the pump plunger to move between the first, charge position and the second, discharge position of the pump plunger relative to the pump housing.

8. The pump dispenser ofclaim 7, further comprising:

a stop surface on the connector; and,

a stop surface on the collar, the collar stop surface being positioned on the collar to engage with the connector stop surface and prevent further rotation of the collar on the connector when the collar is rotated with the dispenser head to the locked position of the dispenser head relative to the connector where the engagement of the collar stop surface with the connector stop surface positively locates the collar sealing surface over the connector vent opening.

9. A pump dispenser that is connectable to a bottle and is manually operated to pump liquid from the bottle interior, the pump dispenser comprising:

a pump plunger having a tubular length with a center axis that defines mutually perpendicular axial and radial directions relative to the pump dispenser, the pump plunger having a discharge passage that extends axially through the pump plunger;

at least one piston on the pump plunger;

a pump housing that receives the pump plunger for rotation of the pump plunger in the pump housing and for axially reciprocating movements of the pump plunger between a first, charge position of the pump plunger relative to the pump housing and a second, discharge position of the pump plunger relative to the pump housing;

an air vent passage through the pump dispenser that provides communication between the bottle interior and an exterior environment of the pump dispenser when the pump dispenser is connected to the bottle;

a cylindrical connector on the pump dispenser that is removably connectable to the bottle to connect the pump dispenser to the bottle, the connector having a lock surface on the connector;

a cylindrical collar on the pump dispenser, the collar being manually rotatable around the pump dispenser between a vent closed position of the collar on the pump dispenser where the collar closes the air vent passage through the pump dispenser and a vent opened position of the collar on the pump dispenser where the collar opens the air vent passage through the pump dispenser;

a dispenser head on the pump plunger, the dispenser head having an outlet passage that communicates with the pump plunger discharge passage and extends radially from the discharge passage, the dispenser head being operatively connected to the collar to rotate with the collar and rotate the pump plunger when the collar is rotated between the vent closed position and the vent opened position, and the dispenser head being connected to the pump plunger to move axially relative to the collar when the pump plunger is moved between the first, charge position and the second, discharge position of the pump plunger relative to the pump housing, the dispenser head having a lock surface on the dispenser head that aligns axially opposite the connector lock surface when the pump plunger is in the first, charge position and the collar is rotated to the closed position where the aligned dispenser head lock surface and connector lock surface prevent the pump plunger moving from the first, charge position to the second, discharge position of the pump plunger relative to the pump housing, and the dispenser head lock surface being axially misaligned with the connector lock surface when the collar is rotated to the opened position enabling the pump plunger to move from the first, charge position to the second, discharge position of the pump plunger relative to the pump housing.

10. The pump dispenser ofclaim 9, further comprising:

the connector having a vent opening that forms a portion of the air vent passage through the pump dispenser; and,

the collar having a sealing surface that covers over and closes the connector vent opening when the collar is rotated with the dispenser head to the locked position of the dispenser head relative to the connector, and is displaced from and opens the connector vent opening when the collar is rotated with the dispenser head to the unlocked position of the dispenser head relative to the connector.

11. The pump dispenser ofclaim 9, further comprising:

the connector having a wall that extends axially from the pump housing over the pump plunger to a distal end of the wall, and the connector lock surface being on the distal end of the connector wall.

12. The pump dispenser ofclaim 11, further comprising:

the connector wall being a cylindrical pump chamber wall that extends axially from the pump housing and extends around the pump plunger.

13. The pump dispenser ofclaim 12, further comprising:

the pump housing containing a liquid pump chamber; and,

the connector pump chamber wall surrounding an air pump chamber.

14. The pump dispenser ofclaim 10, further comprising:

a stop surface on the connector; and,

a stop surface on the collar, the collar stop surface being positioned on the collar to engage with the connector stop surface and prevent further rotation of the collar on the connector when the collar is rotated with the dispenser head to the locked position of the dispenser head relative to the connector where the engagement of the collar stop surface with the connector stop surface positively locates the collar sealing surface over the connector vent opening.

15. A pump dispenser that is connectable to a bottle and is manually operated to pump liquid from an interior of the bottle, the pump dispenser comprising:

a pump plunger having a tubular length with a center axis that defines mutually perpendicular axial and radial directions relative to the pump dispenser, the pump plunger having a discharge passage that extends axially through the pump plunger;

an air piston on the pump plunger;

a liquid piston on the pump plunger, the liquid piston being spaced axially from the air piston; a pump housing receiving the pump plunger for axially reciprocating movements of the pump plunger between a first charge position and a second discharge position of the pump plunger relative to the pump housing;

a liquid pump chamber in the pump dispenser, the liquid piston being received in the liquid pump chamber for reciprocating movements of the liquid piston between charge and discharge positions of the liquid piston in the liquid pump chamber in response to the pump plunger moving between the respective charge and discharge positions of the pump plunger;

an air pump chamber in the pump dispenser, the air pump chamber having an air pump chamber wall surrounding the air pump chamber, the air piston being received in the air pump chamber for reciprocating movements of the air piston between charge and discharge positions of the air piston in the air pump chamber in response to the pump plunger moving between the respective charge and discharge positions of the pump plunger;

a vent opening in the pump dispenser, the vent opening communicating an exterior environment of the pump dispenser with the interior of the bottle when the pump dispenser is connected to the bottle;

a cylindrical collar mounted around the air pump chamber wall for rotation of the collar around the air pump chamber between a vent closed position and a vent opened position of the collar relative to the air pump chamber wall, the collar having a surface that covers the vent opening and closes communication of the exterior environment of the pump dispenser with the interior of the bottle when the collar is moved to the closed position, and that is displaced from the vent opening and opens communication of the exterior environment of the pump dispenser with the interior of the bottle when the collar is moved to the opened position;

a dispenser head mounted on the pump plunger for reciprocating movement of the dispenser head with the pump plunger between the first, charge position and the second, discharge position of the pump plunger relative to the pump housing, the dispenser head being connected to the collar for rotational movement of the dispenser head with the collar between the vent closed position and the vent opened position of the collar relative to the air pump chamber wall, the dispenser head having a lock surface that is positioned on the dispenser head where the lock surface is in axial alignment with the air pump chamber wall when the collar is rotated with the dispenser head to the vent closed position of the collar, the axial alignment of the dispenser head lock surface and the air pump chamber wall preventing reciprocating movement of the dispenser head with the pump plunger relative to the pump housing, and where the lock surface is out of axial alignment with the air pump chamber wall when the collar is rotated with the dispenser head to the vent opened position of the collar, the dispenser head lock surface being out of axial alignment with the air pump chamber wall allowing reciprocating movement of the dispenser head with the pump plunger relative to the pump housing.

Images